Bachmann Predicts 'Miracle' Finish in Iowa

Rep. Michele Bachmann scoffs at the deluge of polls landing her in last place in the Republican presidential race, predictinga “miracle” for her in the Iowa caucuses on Tuesday and insisting that she’s in it for the long haul beyond Iowa.

The Minnesota congresswoman made the comments today on ABC’s “This Week with Christiane Amanpour,” the morning after a Des Moines Register poll gave her 7 percent of the vote, trailing Mitt Romney at 24 percent; Ron Paul at 22; Rick Santorum at 15; and Newt Gingrich, with 12; and Rick Perry, at 11.

The Register's Dec. 27-30 survey of 602 likely Republican caucus participants has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The poll also shows the fluidity that remains ahead of the caucuses, with 41 percent of survey participants saying they could still change their minds.

Statistics and polls “sometimes belie the truth on the ground, and that's what we see,” Bachmann said. “This isn't just about polling. This is about what we're seeing in reality, and I think Tuesday night people are going to see a miracle."

She rejected any notion that a poor showing in her home state would end her campaign.

“We've bought tickets to head off to South Carolina,” she said. “And we are looking forward to the debates. January is a very full month. We're here for the — for the long — for the long race. This is a 50-state race. And we intend to participate not only in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, but to go all the way, because I intend to be the Republican nominee and defeat Barack Obama in 2012.”